* '''Le Nonne''', 132 N. Main St, (435) 752-9577. Great Italian cuisine with a good selection of wines! This restaurant is located on 100 E, just around the corner from Caffè Ibis. The restaurant is a beautiful old house that has been converted, and includes a tranquil, tree-shaded outdoor dining area. Highly recommended!

* '''Le Nonne''', 132 N. Main St, (435) 752-9577. Great Italian cuisine with a good selection of wines! This restaurant is located on 100 E, just around the corner from Caffè Ibis. The restaurant is a beautiful old house that has been converted, and includes a tranquil, tree-shaded outdoor dining area. Highly recommended!

* '''Kyoto Sushi''' (Previously named "Tanpopo"), 55 W 1000 N. Fine Japanese food in the heart of the Cache Valley. The '''Shogun''' platter is highly recommended.

* '''Kyoto Sushi''' (Previously named "Tanpopo"), 55 W 1000 N. Fine Japanese food in the heart of the Cache Valley. The '''Shogun''' platter is highly recommended.

* '''Kamin Thai Cuisine''' 51 West 200 South. Authentic Thai food in a great atmosphere. Very good food.

* '''Kamin Thai Cuisine''' 51 West 200 South. Authentic Thai food in a great atmosphere. Very good food.

* '''Sweetly Divine''' 1309 N Main St. Incredible pastries, sweets, and desserts. They also have good salads, soups, and sandwiches.

* '''Sweetly Divine''' 1309 N Main St. Incredible pastries, sweets, and desserts. They also have good salads, soups, and sandwiches.

Revision as of 02:15, 18 July 2009

Logan[1] is a fair-sized town and is growing rapidly, located in the Wasatch Front region of northern Utah. The town is home to Utah State University, a state school with approximately 23,000 students. Logan offers a wealth of outdoor activities, including some excellent hiking, mountain biking, sport climbing, kayaking, fly-fishing, and skiing. Luckily, Logan remains relatively undiscovered, so many of these activities can be experienced in far less crowded conditions than those found in other, similar areas of the US.

Contents

Understand

Climate

Cache Valley has very unpredictable and extreme weather compared to the urban centers of the Wasatch Front. Winters are very cold, with daytime temperatures rarely getting above freezing and overnight lows frequently dropping below 0F (-18C). Snow is less frequent than in Salt Lake City but the individual storms are usually larger. Some years, however, get very little snow. Cache Valley also has one of the worst inversions in the state, in which cold, moist air and pollutants can become trapped in the valley, sometimes for weeks at a time, causing terrible air quality. Spring and Fall are wild and feature frequent temperature changes. Summer is cooler than in Salt Lake City but still hot, with daytime temperatures generally ranging from 75F (24C) to 95F (35C) - they rarely reach above 100F (38C). It is, however, far enough north that it avoids most of the summer thunderstorms. Although the city is cozy and the surrounding terrain is spectacular, the unpredictable and extreme weather is a turnoff for some.

Get in

Drive north on I-15 from Salt Lake City. Take exit 362 (Brigham City), and follow US 89/91 through the mountains (unofficially referred to as Sardine Canyon) into Cache Valley. The drive should take about 75-90 minutes. US 89 and 91 split in downtown Logan. US 89 heads east through the beautiful Logan Canyon to Bear Lake, a popular tourist destination, while US 91 heads north into Idaho. A regional airport also serves Logan although no commercial commuter flights are available at this time.
Alternately you can also take I-15 N and take Exit 351 for Willard. The short UT126 section branches off towards US-89 for Logan and Ogden. Keep left at that fork and follow the road till you reach Brigham City and then the right lane will lead you towards Logan. This route is 7 miles shorter and a more comfortable drive with very little traffic.

Get around

Driving, riding the bus, walking, and cycling are convenient ways to get around town. Free municipal buses serve Logan and surrounding communities with a simple route system that radiates out from the transit center every half hour. All buses are equipped to carry two or three bicycles. Main Street is heavily used and often congested but parallel streets often provide faster access within Logan. Utah State University, on the east side of town, sits on the Provo Bench of ancient Lake Bonneville, about 250 feet higher than downtown Logan. This elevation difference is a major deterrent to non-motorized transportation. Streets throughout the old grid part of town are wide, thanks to the admonition of Brigham Young to lay out early Utah cities with streets wide enough to turn a double-team of horses and a buck-board around, so there is plenty of room for cyclists.

See

Willow Park. Located in Southwest Logan. Willow Park is huge and a great place for picnics or to take the kids. It has three different playgrounds and a zoo with a wide variety of species. It's also right next to the Aquatic Center (the largest public swimming pool in the valley), Logan's only skate park, and the Fairgrounds, where the Fair takes place at the end of every August.

Logan Canyon. Located along US 89 northeast of Logan, Logan Canyon is a long, scenic canyon that offers numerous hiking and camping opportunities. Tony Grove, near the summit, is among the most popular camping area, and marks the beginning of several trails. Beaver Mountain, further up the canyon, is the local ski area. Logan Canyon itself is very scenic, and offers spectacular fall colors that rival those of New England. During winter, temperatures are excessively cold and the road may be closed at any time due to heavy snow. Numerous sinks lie near Logan Canyon, and these areas are popular for snowmobiling. The coldest temperature ever recorded in Utah was in Peter's Sink, near Logan Canyon, a frigid -69°F (-56°C). Cave exploring and rock-climbing are also popular activities in Logan Canyon.

Logan Tabernacle. Found on Center and Main of downtown Logan, this building and surrounding landscaping is worth a glance. A monument heralding Mormon pioneers lies in the northwest corner. Check for details on tours.

Logan Temple. The second temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints finished in the Utah dominates the Cache Valley skyline day and night. Well tended gardens and unique architecture are worth a close look. Be aware that only members of the church can enter the temple itself.

Do

Hike the Wind Caves trail. 2.6 mile round trip, 900' elevation gain. The trail winds up the north side of Logan Canyon, through maple groves, to a small formation of caves and arches. Offers a beautiful view down into the canyon as well. Trailhead is ~5 miles up US 89 into Logan Canyon, located on the north side of the road opposite Guinavah-Malibu Campground.

Hike the Naomi Peak trail. 5.8 mile round trip, 1980' elevation gain. Naomi Peak (9980’) is the highest point in the Bear River Range. The trail leads through meadows full of wildflowers to the peak, which offers spectacular views of the surrounding peaks and of the Cache Valley. Trailhead is located at Tony Grove Lake. Take US 89 approximately 19 miles up Logan Canyon to the Tony Grove turnoff. The lake (and trailhead) are 7 miles from US 89.

Buy

Cache Valley Mall, the one place where you can do all kinds of shopping. Has all the famous chain stores and during season times you get great sales and deals. Stores include Pac Sun, Zumiez, Vanity, EB Games, Hot Topic, JC Penny's, American Eagle, and Dillards.

Eat

Restaurants

Angies, 690 North Main - "where the locals eat" - ask about the "kitchen sink" for dessert.

Cafe Sabor, 600 W Center St, (435) 752-8088. Very good Mexican/Tex-Mex restaurant. Located in a former railway station.

Le Nonne, 132 N. Main St, (435) 752-9577. Great Italian cuisine with a good selection of wines! This restaurant is located on 100 E, just around the corner from Caffè Ibis. The restaurant is a beautiful old house that has been converted, and includes a tranquil, tree-shaded outdoor dining area. Highly recommended!

Kyoto Sushi (Previously named "Tanpopo"), 55 W 1000 N. Fine Japanese food in the heart of the Cache Valley. The Shogun platter is highly recommended.

Kamin Thai Cuisine 51 West 200 South. Authentic Thai food in a great atmosphere. Very good food.

Sweetly Divine 1309 N Main St. Incredible pastries, sweets, and desserts. They also have good salads, soups, and sandwiches.

Coffee Shops

Caffè Ibis, 52 Federal Ave (in downtown Logan), [2]. Offers excellent organic, shade-grown coffee, as well as sandwiches and wraps fresh from the deli. Every now and then it features a live local band.

Citrus and Sage, (in downtown Logan). Across the street from Caffè Ibis is Citrus and Sage, a cozy coffee shop with a relaxing atmosphere. Also has free Wi-Fi and a small selection of books you can borrow for free.

Drink

The White Owl. Located on Center St just west of Main St, has a good selection of beers from inside and outside of Utah. During the summer the upstairs deck offers fresh air, good company, and a view of the Wellsville Mountains to the west.

Get out

To get out of Logan, you can simply backtrack south on US 89-91 through Sardine Canyon and Brigham city to I-15, or you can continue northward on US 91 through Preston, ID, and eventually return to I-15 about 33 miles south of Pocatello, ID.

You can also head west on 200 North/UT-30. 20 miles to I-15.

Stay safe

Logan has very little crime and has been repeatedly named as one of the safest cities in the country. It is still wise, however, to not forget about the basic tips.

Winters can get very cold in Logan and proper precautions must be taken against the weather. Major snowstorms should also be prepared for, and the winter inversions may aggravate people with respiratory problems such as asthma.

This is a usable article. It has information for getting in as well as some complete entries for restaurants and hotels. An adventurous person could use this article, but please plunge forward and help it grow!